By Gabby Herzig, Brody Miller and Hugh Kellenberger
Winning a golf major is incredibly challenging.
With only nine major tournaments held annually — four for men and five for women — it becomes painfully evident how limited these opportunities are, especially considering the short timeframe when a golfer is in their prime to compete. For many, outside of Scottie Scheffler, there may only be one or two chances at this elusive title throughout their careers.
If you doubt this, take a look at the roster of top golfers who have yet to claim a major championship. It includes numerous prominent names, some of which might make an appearance on The Athletic’s predictions for golfers likely to win their first major in 2026.
Jeeno Thitikul
Remarkably, the best female golfer in the world has yet to secure a major title. Jeeno Thitikul, a 22-year-old sensation from Thailand, has amassed nearly all top honors in women’s golf this past year without stepping into the LPGA major winner’s circle. Having been named Player of the Year and winning the CME Group Tour Championship for the second consecutive year, she is the sole LPGA player with three wins in 2025. Thitikul established a new record for the lowest single-season scoring average in LPGA history, surpassing Annika Sorenstam’s record from 2002. However, she narrowly missed her chance at a maiden major victory this summer, losing in a seven-hole playoff to Grace Kim at the Evian Championship. Since 2021, she has recorded nine top-10 finishes in majors, indicating that it’s only a matter of time before her exceptional skill and consistency lead to a major win.
Alongside Thitikul, Charley Hull is also on the path towards a major title. The 29-year-old from the English Midlands has four runner-up finishes and has identified winning majors as her primary focus. Following her recent runner-up performance at the AIG Women’s Open, she reached her career-high ranking at No. 5 in the world.
Tommy Fleetwood
This might sound pretty usual, but there’s more to Tommy Fleetwood than just the common observation that a consistently good player will eventually clinch a title. Something shifted for Fleetwood towards the end of summer as his struggles came to a peak, prompting him to elevate his game. Following victories at the Tour Championship, a dominating Ryder Cup, and a win in India, he transformed from being merely a nice player to an elite one. He learned to harness confidence under pressure, revealing the greatness that was previously masked by his gentlemanly demeanor.
This newfound confidence might heighten expectations for him as he approaches the Masters, where he may aim to win rather than settle for consistent top-10 finishes. The form he exhibited at the Tour Championship suggests he can compete against top players like Scheffler and McIlroy.
Cameron Young
While it would be exciting to predict an under-the-radar player akin to the emerging stars of years past, my research didn’t reveal such contenders this time around.
Thus, let’s talk about Cameron Young, who, until August, struggled to win any event. After securing his first victory at the Wyndham Championship, he quickly demonstrated his potential by placing in the top five again the following week and performing strongly at the Tour Championship. Young was among the top performers at the Ryder Cup, earning points in every format.
This explosive performances signals his readiness to capitalize on future opportunities. Young has experienced success in all four majors with six top-10 finishes since 2022 and a runner-up at the 2022 Open. The U.S. Open, particularly, presents a prime opportunity for him, being a New York native who is familiar with places like Shinnecock Hills.
